Redlands Emergency Academy concludes with swift water rescue training

Ryan Figueras, 18, of Loma Linda, left, Robert Tooke, 18, of Redlands and Maxwell Pereyra, 17, of Loma Linda work together as a team practicing a swift water rescue Sunday at the Splash Kingdom Waterpark in Redlands. The Redlands Emergency Services Academy trains high school graduates interested in a public safety career.
Photo by James Carbone

Redlands Emergency Services Academy participants experience how to save someone using a “high directional line.”
Photo by James Carbone

REDLANDS >> Tyler Jaquess walked into the Redlands Emergency Academy last week intent on becoming a firefighter after college.

Completing the weeklong course has just fueled his fire.

The 18-year-old Highland resident was all smiles after completing a swift water rescue simulation under the watchful eyes of members of the Redlands Police and Fire departments Sunday at Splash Kingdom Waterpark before a rush of park customers arrived.

Sunday’s activity was one of two planned on Sunday to close out the annual academy, which gives high school graduates interested in a career in police or fire a hands-on look at what it takes to make that goal become a reality.

Jaquess learned of the academy from a teacher at Citrus Valley High School, where he graduated from in June.

He said the academy was a lot of fun.

“We did a lot of things that a normal person wouldn’t do,” he said during a break. “I went in wanting to go through the fire academy, and I still want to. It pushed me towards it.”

Academy participants arrived at the University of Redlands on July 13 to begin their training in such areas as search and rescue, triage and auto extrication.

Eleven people completed the course this year, and those who completed the course Sunday were recognized at an awards ceremony after the Splash Kingdom visit.

Jaquess plans to attend Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa to obtain an associate degree in fire sciences. He plans on absorbing as much knowledge as possible so one day he’ll join the ranks of the Redlands Fire Department.

The Redlands Emergency Academy began in July 1999 as a collaborative effort that included the Redlands Police and Fire departments, Crafton Hills College and the Redlands Unified School District.

The program is made possible through community donations and a grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

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About 60 percent of the academy’s facilitators went through the course before starting their careers, said firefighter Jason Dressel.